The 2024 Special Olympics Yukon Canada Winter Games athletes got a special sendoff at the Western Gold Rush Inn Thursday.

The team will be heading to the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games in Calgary Feb. 27-March 2.

The evening started off with some of the mission staff, which includes Andrew Elines (Chef de Mission), Emma Hill
(Team Manager), Hannah Goodings (Team Manager),
Brenda Pilatzke-Vanier (NextGen coach program) and Davie Musko (NextGen coach program) being introduced.

O Canada was then sung.

Dignitaries, including Kwanlin Dün First Nations Chief Sean Smith, Special Olympics board member Kathy Guenette, Whitehorse Assistant Mayor and Councillor Jocelyn Curteanu, and Yukon Minister of Community Services Richard Mostyn followed with speeches.

African singer Alex Kajumulo joined local guitarist Roxx Hunter in an inspiring performance of one of Kajumulo's songs.

Especially uplifting was Kajumulo's message of unity for everyone.

Special Olympics curling skip Gaetan “Gaets” Michaud also gave a moving, humourous speech.

Michaud was a member of the 2012 national gold-medal winning curling team, the 2014 national gold-medal-winning soccer team, and skipped the Yukon's Northwestel Chilkoot Sweepers to gold at the inaugural Northwestel Curling Invitational for Special Olympics in Whitehorse in November 2023.

"Special Olympics Yukon is sending the largest team ever to participate at the Special Olympics Canada Winter Games," said Michaud.

He said the Yukon Special Olympics team consists of five bowlers, four curlers, three cross country skiers, and one figure skater, Mike Sumner, "along with their amazing coaches and mission staff."

Michaud said his winter sports career started in Quebec in 1998 in snowshoeing.

He moved to the Yukon in 2007 and became a curler.

"At first, I didn't know what curling was, but when I got onto the ice, I learned quick, thanks to my coach and teammates."

His first national Winter Games were in 2012, in St. Albert, Alta., where they came home with the gold medal.

"Boy, was it a great experience," related Michaud.

Michaud said he was excited to participate in the 2023 Canada Winter Games in the same city that hosted the 1988 Olympics.

"My goal will be to have fun and try my best and hopefully win a medal. "

Michaud then told a "funny Games story" about him almost falling on top of fellow curler Brandle Bruneau in their hotel room at the 2023 provincial games.

"I wonder what stories I'll be able to share from these upcoming Games?," he asked.

Michaud finished with a joke.

"What did one curling stone say to the other (stone)?

"I won't take you for granite."

Cross country skier Owen Monroe, along with Maché Patrice, brought in the Flame of Hope.

Past flag bearers, including current bowler Garry Chaplin, cross country skier Ernest Chua,

Sumner, Michaud, and Munroe, were brought up to the front.

Elines then announced that Brandle Bruneau was named flag bearer for the Calgary Games.

Bruneau, a man of few words who lets his actions do the talking, said he felt "pretty good" about being the flag bearer.

Curler Carrie Rudolph said she thought the evening was "pretty fun and a lot of people showed up."

As for the upcoming Games, Rudolph, who's already been to four national Games, said, "I'm just gonna represent the Yukon as best as I can."

Rudolph added, "Follow the website, follow the Facebook page for Special Olympics Yukon, and cheer us on."

Michaud said, "Tonight's been great. All the hard work's gonna pay off. No matter what happens, I am so proud of this team.

"It's a privilege to represent the Yukon. You're making your families and friends proud."

Michaud thanked his parents for supporting him for quite a few years.

"It goes to show how powerful family is."

Regarding the Games, Michaud said, "I'm pretty sure all the team's gonna bring their A game and they're gonna try their best. I know that for a fact."

Michaud added, "Win or lose, you're there to have fun."

Michaud agreed that winning the Northwestel Curling Invitational would give his curling team momentum.

"Winning a bonspiel in your home town, it boosts up your confidence, so I do believe that my curling team is going to be really good."

Sumner was enjoying the evening.

"I love the whole feeling, just the atmosphere and all the fans cheering us on."

Sumner said he's looking to defend his gold medal at the Canada Games.

"I feel very accomplished. I feel like a great representative for the Yukon and just going out there and giving it everything I've got."

As for skating in Calgary, Sumner said, "It means the world to me. It's going to be an amazing experience and I can't wait for it."

Bowler Gracie Ryckman said the sendoff "was a fun experience."

Ryckman said she felt "nervous" about going to Calgary, but really excited.

For preparation, Ryckman said they did a Team Yukon boot camp and are bowling three days a week.

Of the evening, Special Olympics Yukon Executive Director Serge Michaud said, "The energy was electric. Anytime we can gather people around to celebrate our athletes is a good day.

"Our athletes deserve the energy. They deserve the same kind of sendoff that we do for teams that go to Arctics and teams that go to Canada Games."

When asked the best thing about the evening, Serge Michaud said, "Special Olympics athletes are accepted, included, embraced, celebrated."

Serge Michaud added that the community really rallies around the Special Olympic athletes.

"You look at our sponsors like Urban (Realty) and the government of Yukon and Canada and all the other businesses that support us throughout the year, they're the ones that make this happen.

"I say to our staff all the time, 'Our job is really fun, where we get to enable and help our coaches help our athletes.'"

To all the athletes, chef de mission Elines, who's leaving Special Olympics Yukon after the Games, said, "You're not only representing Team Yukon, but you're also representing the values of inclusion, sportsmanship and excellence that define the Special Olympics movement.

"I'll never forget the joy and camaraderie that comes from this experience. To all of us, you guys are champions, and we couldn't be prouder."

Here are all the Team Yukon athletes and coaches:

5 Pin Bowling

Garry Chaplin Duncan McRae Bobbi-Rae Patchett
Mallory Pigage
Gracie Ryckman Krista McKinnon (Head Coach) Sean Ridder (Coach)

Curling

Brandle Bruneau
Edward Kaye
Gaetan “Gaets” Michaud
Carrie Rudolph
Deb Sumner (Head Coach)
Scott Lillies (Coach)

Cross Country Skiing

Ernest Chua
Darby McIntyre
Owen Munroe
Lee Hawkings (Head Coach)
Rachelle Boudreau (XC Skiing Mission Staff)

Figure Skating

Mike Sumner
Tanya Sage (Head Coach)
Teresa Wallace (Figure Skating Mission Staff)